Number of employed persons in Germany, domestic concept
Number of employed persons in Germany, domestic concept stood at 45,878 thousands in 2025, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Labour market (annual) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1991 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market (annual) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons according to ESA 2010, Domestic concept, Absolute value2 | 45,878 | 45,960 | 45,909 | 45,622 | 45,041 | 44,965 | 45,291 | 44,878 | 44,290 | 43,686 | |
| Employees subject to social security contributions, Total, Absolute value | 34,962,851 | 34,934,486 | 34,790,058 | 34,507,359 | 33,897,417 | 33,579,123 | 33,518,289 | 32,964,195 | 32,234,350 | 31,508,445 | |
| Persons working exclusively in low-paid part-time jobs, Total, Absolute value | 4,121,366 | 4,180,239 | 4,197,977 | 4,124,569 | 4,100,721 | 4,289,708 | 4,578,952 | 4,671,481 | 4,740,495 | 4,803,861 |
Understanding number of employed persons in Germany, domestic concept
The domestic concept tallies every individual engaged in productive activity within national borders, regardless of their permanent residence. This aggregate includes employees, self-employed individuals, and family workers, capturing cross-border commuters travelling into the country while excluding residents working abroad. As the broadest employment metric under the ESA 2010 framework, it captures the total workforce driving domestic production, contrasting with narrower subsets like those paying mandatory social insurance.
As an annual average, this time series neutralises seasonal hiring patterns found in construction or agriculture, making year-on-year comparisons the standard approach for observing structural shifts. Initial estimates are frequently revised when final administrative records—such as complete tax filings and firm registers—replace preliminary survey samples. A common pitfall is conflating this measure with the national concept, which adjusts for cross-border flows, or assuming it equals full-time equivalents; a part-time retail assistant and a full-time factory operative each add exactly one unit to this absolute value.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the domestic concept count foreign residents commuting across the border?
- Yes, it includes anyone working within the borders, regardless of where they live.
- Are self-employed professionals included in this absolute value?
- Yes, the aggregate covers self-employed individuals alongside wage earners and contributing family workers.
- How does this differ from full-time equivalent metrics?
- This series counts the absolute number of people employed, meaning part-time and full-time workers carry the exact same statistical weight.